Types of City Government - There are two forms of city government in Thurston County: mayor-council and
council-manager. Under both forms of government the council is the city’s legislative and policy-making body. All council members are elected.

The council enacts all ordinances, resolutions, and policies consistent with state law for the safety and welfare of the city’s or town’s residents. Ordinances may include local tax measures authorized by statute. Traffic, fire protection, police, land use, municipal services, business, and other regulations are overseen by the council. The council controls the city’s finances through the budgeting and auditing processes and by exercising general oversight. The council also makes contracts, creates subordinate positions, prescribes duties, and fixes salaries. The mayor’s role depends upon the form of government in a particular city or town.

Mayor-Council: Bucoda, Rainier, Tenino, Tumwater, and Yelm.
In this form of government, the mayor is elected and is the city’s chief executive or administrative officer and the ceremonial head of the city. The mayor carries out the council’s policies, administers day-to-day city affairs, and with some limitations appoints, supervises, and discharges subordinate officers. The mayor presides over council meetings and has a veto power over ordinances.

Council-Manager: Lacey and Olympia.
In this form of government the council appoints a city manager as the chief administrative officer. The manager appoints and discharges all department heads and subordinate officers and is responsible to the council for the proper administration of all city affairs. The council may discharge the manager but may not interfere with or bypass the manager’s day-to-day administration of subordinates. A council member is selected by the council, or by an alternative election method, to act as chairman with the title of “mayor”. The mayor continues to be a full member of the council with all attendant rights, privileges, and immunities. The mayor also presides over council meetings and acts as the ceremonial head of the city. The mayor has no regular administrative powers but may be required to exercise certain powers in emergencies.

All city and town positions are nonpartisan.

Only voters residing within the city limits of Tumwater will vote on this position.
Statements are written by the candidates, who are solely responsible for the contents therein.

As incumbent Tumwater Council Member it is my honor to serve you. Currently I am vice-chair of the Intercity Transit board, chair of Thurston 911, and chair of Tumwater’s Public Safety Committee. I serve as vice-chair of Thurston’s Transportation Policy Board, I am on the national Executive Committee of the American Public Transportation Association, and by appointment from the Governor on the Washington’s Public Works Board.

I have helped locate a financial institution to our city and provided the process for improvement to our basic government core services. I am working to bring express bus service and a park and ride lot to Tumwater.

My priorities for my next term are further improvements of Tumwater’s transportation system, develop zoning for the brewery property and Capitol Boulevard that is commercially viable and environmentally friendly.

I ask for your vote and will work to make Tumwater an even better community.

I am a PhD Student studying Clinical Psychology. I reside in Tumwater. I love to exercise and cook homemade meals. I would like to make a difference for parents with school children. If I am elected as Council woman, I want to make sure school children’s needs are met. I mean to ensure funding is in place where it belongs. Too often funds tend to go where it is not needed. I pledge that will not happen to our schools. We don’t want to shortchange our future by shortchanging our children.

Ballots will begin arriving October 17, 2013. If you have not received your ballot by October 24,
contact our office immediately.